Trigger mechanism for firearms.



No. 791,936. PATENTED JUNE 6. 1905.

K. C. MGNELL. TRIGGER MEGHANISM FOR FIRBARMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 791.936. PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905. K. G. MGNBILL.

TRIGGER MECHANISM POR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.25,.1904.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

V L Si y 2 swmal'oz fr af/fonc'. M .c /ve PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

K. C. MGNELL. TRIGGER MEGHANISM POR FREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25.1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.4

Stroming UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT EETCE.

TRIGGER NIECHANISNI FOR FIREARNIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,936, dated June 6,1905. Application iiled February 25, 1904. Serial No. 195,236.

. cation.

This invention relates to firearms, and particularly to the triggermechanism, the object of the invention being to provide a single-triggermechanism for breakdown guns which will enable both barrels of the gunto be fired individually and at different times one after the other,either barrel first, as may be preferred.

The invention also enables the mechanism to be set so as to avoid anydanger of iiring either barrel when adjusted to a position of safety.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange thetrigger mechanism that simplicity and reliability will be attainedwithout resort to delicate parts and consequent liability of getting outof order.

With the above general objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter fully illustrated, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of thebreech-frame of a firearm with the right-hand plate or lock removed toshow the trigger mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the socket-plate,showing also a por? tion of the slide which controls and sets thescar-catches. Fig. 3 `is a plan view of the catch-setting slide. Fig. 4Lis a rear end ele- Vation of the sears and the catches carried thereby.Figs. 5 and 6 are inside elevations of the left-hand plate or lock,showing the snapped and cocked positions, respectively. Figs. 7 and 8are detail perspective views of the left and right sears, respectively.Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of the catch of the lefthand sear. Figs. 10and 11 are inside elevations of the right-hand plate or lock, showingthe snapped and cocked positions of the sears, respectively. Fig. 12 isa detail view showing the first position of the thumb-piece and slidingplate or slide, and Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the third positionof the same parts.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figuresof the drawlngs. a

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a breech-frame of the usualbreakdown type and having the tang 2 and trigger-plate 3, respectively,connected at the rear by means of a brace or post 4, while 5 designatesthe lefthand plate or lock and 6 the right-hand plate or lock, the saidparts being of the usual construction and arrangement.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the left-hand plate orlock 5 comprises the usual yoke or frame-piece 7, pivoted hammer 8, andmainspring 9. By reference to Figs. 10 and 11 it will be seen that therighthand plate or lock comprises the usual yoke or frame piece 10,hammer 11, and mainspring 12. In carrying out the present inventionright and left hand sears 13 and 11, respectively, are' pivotallymounted in the usual manner at 15 intermediate their ends, and theforward end of each sear is provided with a notch 16 and an inclinedterminal shoulder or extremity 17, while each hammer is provided with ascar-engaging shoulder 18 and in addition thereto a wedge-shapedprojection, one side of which is inclined, as shown at 19, the saidinclined shoulder cooperating with the inclined terminal shoulder 17 ofthe Sear, so that as the hammer is thrown forward by the spring theshoulder 19 operates with a cam action on the shoulder 17, depressingthe forward end of the sear and elevating the rear extremity thereof, asclearly illustrated in Figs. 56, 10, and 11.

The right-hand sear 13 is provided at its rear extremity with a lateraloffset 20, from which rises a xed catch 21, provided with a hook-shapedor undercut shoulder 22, adapted to be engaged by the Sear-actuator,hereinafter more particularly described. The lefthand sear 14 is alsoprovided with a lateral offset 23, to which is pivotally connected at211 a swinging catch 25, which is provided with a shoulder 26 forengagement with the scar-actuator. In addition to its pivotal re- IOOlation to the sear 14 the catch 25 also differs from the catch 21 inthat it is provided With a locking projection 27, preferably in the formof a pin, which extends upward from the catch, so as to enter a socketor opening 28 in a slide29, located just beneath the upper tang 2 of theframe, as best illustrated in Figs. 1, 12, and 13.. The slide 29 isadapted to move lengthwise of the tang and rides in contact with asocket-plate 30, interposed between the slide and the tang 2 andprovided with a plurality of openings or sockets 31 and 32 and anintervening imperforate portion 33. Y

The slide 29 is moved lengthwise by means of the usual slidingthumb-piece 34, which in irearms now in use is employed to lock or release the trigger mechanism, so as to set the same for firing or safety.The thumb-piece 34 is provided with a pin or shank 35, which worksthrough a slot in the tang 32 and also passes through an opening in theslide 29, said shank or pin being provided with a shoulder or stop 36,between which and the slide 29 is arranged a spring 37, which operatesto hold the rear end of the slide yieldingly toward the tang 2. Threenotches 38, 39, and 40 are provided in the tang 2, into any one of whichthe extremity of the yielding and sliding plate. 29 is adapted to snapfor the purpose of holding the plate, and consequently the pivoted catch25, in one of three positions, the spring 37 allowing the extremity ofthe slide or plate 29 to snap into or past the said notches and theshoulders formed thereby.

When the slide or plate 29 is in the first position, the extremitythereof engages the first notch 38 and holds the locking projection 27in line with the socket 31, so that the catch 25 may move upward. Whenthe slide or plate 29 is in engagement with the notch 40, the lockingprojection 27 is in line with the socket 32, which arrangement of partsalso permits the catch 25 to move upward. When, however, the slide orplate 29 is in engagement with the intermediate or second notch 39, thelocking projection 27 is in line with the imperforate or solid portion33 of the socket-plate, which prevents any upward movement of the catch25. As the upward movement of the catch 25 is necessary to the tiringoperation, it will be understood that when the catch 25 is in theintermediate or middle position the trigger mechanism is at safety,which prevents the firing4 of the gun.

The catches 21 and 25 are raised and' operated by means of aSear-actuator 41, the shank 42 of which is slotted to straddle the tangor body portion of the trigger 43, which is pivotall y Inounted in theusual manner, said searactuator being pivotally connected to thetrigger, as shown at 44. The Sear-actuator is also weighted at the rear,as shown at 45, to

give the same a normal tendency away from the catches; but saidscar-actuator is held yieldingly toward the catches by means of a spring46, one extremity of which is secured to the trigger of the gun, whilethe free end thereof passes through the slotted shank of theSear-actuator and exerts an upward pressure thereon, so as to hold theengaging point 47 of the dog in engagement with the shoulder of-one orboth of the catches 21 and 25, according to the position of the slide orplate 29. 48 designates the trigger-spring.

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood by referenceto Figs. 1, .12, and 13, in which it will be observed that when theslide or plate 29 is thrown rearward to the first position theSear-actuator 41 engages the pivoted catch 25 and when the trigger isoperated the said catch is moved npward, which movement is permitted byreason of the fact that the locking projection 27 is in line with thesocket 31. When the trigger is now operated, the left-hand sear isvibrated and the hammer of the left-hand barrel released. When the plateis pushed forward to the third position orso as to engage the notch 40,the catch 25 is swung far enough forward to allow the Sear-actuator toengage the shoulder of the catch 21, so that when the Sear-actuator israised said catch is lifted, thus operating the sear and snapping thehammer of the right hand barrel. When the sliding plate is adjusted tothe middle position, the Sear-actuator engages the shoulders of bothcatches 21 and 25; but the locking projection 27 is then in line withthe imperforate or solid portion of the socket-plate 30 just between thesockets 31 and 32, and therefore the catch 25 is prevented from movingupward, and as a result the trigger mechanism is locked and incapable ofany movement which will result in the firing of either barrel.

It will be apparent that the operator may lire either barrel first, ashe may desire, the left-hand sear being placed in operative relation tothe trigger by sliding the thumbpiece 34 rearward and the right-handsear being placed in operative relation to the searactuator by slidingsaid thumb-piece to the forward limit of its movement. The mechanismabove described obtains the greatest simplicity of mechanism, no greaternumber IOO IIO

IIS

of parts being used than are now employed in the ordinary double-triggermechanism. The mechanismv is also durable, and no delicate parts liableto get out of order are resorted to. The mechanism is also arranged withspecial reference to taking up the recoil of the gun in firing, thusavoiding unintentional iiring of the remaining barrel. The mechanismalso enables the gunner to select either barrel he desires to [ireprimarily and to follow the same up quickly by firing the remainingbarrel. Incase the first barrel snaps the second may be tired instantlyWithout changing or shifting the mechanism, and y vice versa.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Thecombination with a plurality of firing mechanisms, each having a sear,of a trigger common to both firing mechanisms, a searactuator connectedwith the trigger, a catch fixed to one sear, a second catch movablyconnected with the other sear, and means for shifting the movable catchinto engagement with the scar-actuator While moving said searactuatorout of' engagement with the fixed catch, and for shifting said movablecatch out of engagement with the scar-actuator While permitting saidSear-actuator to engage the fixed catch.

2. The combination With a plurality of firing mechanisms each having asear, of' a trigger common to both mechanisms, a Sear-actuator pivotallyconnected with the trigger, a fixed catch on one sear, a movable catchon the other Sear, and a sliding plate for moving the movable catcheither into inoperative position or into and out of engagement with thescar-actuator, said Sear-actuator being disengaged from the fixed catchwhen engaged by the movable catch, engaged with the fixed catch whendisengaged from the movable catch, and engaged with both catches whenthe movable catch is in inoperative position.

3. The combination With a plurality of firing mechanisms involvingsears, of a trigger common to both firing mechanisms, a fixed catch onone sear, a catch having a jointed connection with the other Sear, meansfor shifting the jointed catch to throW the same into and out ofalinement with the fixed catch, and a scar-actuator having a yieldingconnection with the trigger and adapted to engage one or the other orboth of said catches, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of firing mechanisms, each having a sear, a trigger,a Sear-actuator pivotally connected With the trigger, a fixed catch onone scar, a movable catch on the other Sear, a locking projection on themovable catch, a sliding plate engaged with the locking projection, asocket-plate adjacent to the sliding plate, means for retaining thesliding plate in different positions, and a finger-piece for actuatingthe sliding plate. a In testimony whereofl I affix my signature inpresence of two Witnesses.

KNOWLTON CYRUS MCNEILL.

Witnesses:

H. A. GARNER, W. M. MoDoNALD.

